English to English Dictionary

Lay of the land

The general state of affairs, current situation, or how a particular environment or scenario is structured.

Laydown

An act of laying something down, or a hand or bet in a card game that is revealed because it is exceptionally strong or conclusive.

Layman

A person without professional or specialized knowledge in a particular subject.

Leaflet-drop

The distribution of printed informational sheets or flyers, typically by hand-delivering them to residences or dropping them from an aircraft.

Lede

The opening sentence or paragraph of a news article that summarizes the most important aspects of the story.

Leech

An aquatic or terrestrial annelid worm that has a sucker at each end and feeds on the blood of vertebrates.

Legal framework

A broad system of rules, laws, agreements, and standards that establish a context for action, organization, or governance.

Legatee

A person who receives a legacy or personal property left in a will.

Legionella

A bacterium of a genus that includes the bacterium which causes Legionnaires' disease.

Legislation

Laws, considered collectively, that have been enacted by a governing body or legislative assembly.

Leisure suit

A men's casual suit consisting of a shirt-style jacket and matching trousers, typically made of polyester and popular in the 1970s.

Leitmotif

A short, recurring musical phrase associated with a particular person, place, or idea.